Automobile-fender.



A. URBAGH.

AUTOMOBILE FENDER.

APPLIQATION FILED 11110.12, 1912. RENEWED DEC. 12, 1914.

1,1 24,978. Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

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ALFRED URBACH, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE-FENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Application filed December 12, 1912, Serial No. 736,428. RenewedDecember 12, 1914. Serial No. 876,991.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED URBAOH, a citizenof the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have invented a new and usefulAutomobile-Fender, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to novel means which may be attached to anautomobile or other vehicle for the purpose of preventing accident anddanger to human or other forms of life.

An object of my invention is to provide a durable fender which may beattached to any automobile, and which is both gainly in appearance, andefiicient and efiective in preventing danger to life or limb.

Another object is to minimize the space required by the fender ahead ofthe automobile.

Another object is to provide a novel fender bar which is notablyresilient in its action, so that the shock is minimized when a personfalls onto the same, and which is substantially water proof and rustproof, so that it may withstand continued washing of the automobilewithout deterioration.

Other objects may appear in consideration of the detailed descriptionand by inspection of the drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan View showing the forward portion of an automobilewith the fender attached to same. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of theautomobile'portion andthe fender shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentalfront view of the automobile and fender, the left half only being shown.Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view of a portion of the forward rubberbumper showing the details of a novel fender bar embraced in myinvention. Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view of one of the sidemembers of the supporting frame taken on the line m w of Fig. 2, andshows the leaves of the clamp, whereby the fender bracket is bound tothe frame.

The portion of the automobile shown in the figures includes the usualhood 1, the radiator 2, the heavy side members 3 of the supportingframe, supporting springs 4 and the forward wheels 5. The frame members3 are usually connected to springs 4 by means of a pin 6, Fig. 2, and bymeans of suitable clamps 7 adapted to embrace the frame members 3 behindthe pin 6. The two fender brackets 8 are rigidly and securely attachedto the automobile frame. The clamps 7 are formed integrally with thebrackets 8, and clamping nuts 9 are provided whereby the two leaves orstraps 10 and 11, projecting out from the bracket metal, see Fig. 5, maybe securely bound around the frame member 3. However, each of thebrackets 8 proper really comprises" the rigid forward and rearwardmembers 19 and 20, respectively, and by the side members 21, all ofwhich are firmly attached to each other in any suitable manner. Betweenthe forward and rear members 19 and20are attached resilient fender bars22, the details of which will be hereinafter described. A soft rubberbumper 23 is provided on the forward member 19 in such manner as torelieve the shock somewhat when a person is picked up by the fender.Lugs 24 dependfrom each of the side bars 21, and between said lugs iscarried the fender supporting shaft 25, the same passingloosely throughapertures 13 of the fender brackets 8, and thereby pivotally connectingthe fender part 17 to the automobile.

,The lugs 24, through, which the shaft 25 passes, extending below theside bars 21, will permit the center of gravity of the fender to shiftrearward when the fender is raised to horizontal position, therebyoperating to facilitate maintaining said fender in horizontal positionwhen a person has fallen on the same. Arms 14 of brackets 8 extenddownward between the fender bars 22, and for the purpose of cooperatingwith pins 15 and 16 to limit the pivotal motion of fender part 17, thetwo so 17 comprises a rectangular frame formed by" fingers 26, Fig. 1,are rigidly attached to the rear frame member 20 and move between thelimiting pins 15 and 16.

In view of the weight of the bumper '23 the center of gravity of thefender part 17 is carried ahead of the geometrical center of said fenderpart to a point located approximately at 27 Fig. 1, and it will benoticed that the position of the fender supporting shaft 25 is locatedslightly behind the center of gravity 27. lVith this construction thefender part 17 will be normally inclined rearwardly and upwardly, as inFig. 2, but when a person is picked up by the fender, he will usuallyfall ontothe more extensive rear fender portion located behind thesupporting shaft 25, so that his weight will shift the center of gravitybehind said shaft and pivotally rotate the fen der part 17 into ahorizontal position indicated by the dotted position, Fig. 2. By thuspivotally mounting this fender part, so that same is normally inclinedas aforesaid, the bumper will run close to the ground and will trip aperson without breaking the lower limbs; and after the person hasdropped onto the fender, the same will turn into the horizontalposition, so that the person cannot roll forward and 0H same.Furthermore, the inclined position of said fender permits the same tooccupy as little horizontal space as possible.

In order to prevent a person rolling off the rear of the fender portion17 and drop ping beneath the body of the car, the second portion 18 isprovided behind same. The fender portion 18 comprises a vertical, orsubstantially vertical, upper portion 29 extendingslightly above the topof the radiator 2, and includes a lower concaved portion 30 in which therear frame member 20 of the fender part 17 is adapted to pivotallyoperate. The frame of the fender portion 18 comprises the rigid crossmembers 31, 32, 33 and 34, Figs. 1 and 2, the side members 35, all beingsuitably bound to each other so as to give rigidity to the frame. Thelower portion of the side members 35 are bent so as to form the concavedportion 30, and are then bent horizontally forward and carry the crossmember 34 at their forward extremities. Between the cross members 31 and32, and the cross members 32 and 33, are attachedresilient fender bars36 similar tothe bars 22 of fender part 17. For the purpose of providingsuitable supporting means for the fender part .18, two members 37 arerigidly attached to and extend inwardly from the side members 35; andsaid members 37 are each provided with a clamp 38 similar to clamp 7,Fig. 5, said clamps 38 being adapted to embrace and rigidly support thefender part 18 upon the main frame members 3 of the automobile. Toreinforce these supporting-means for the fender member 18, the cross bar34 passes through an aperture 39, Fig. 2, provided in the dependingbracket arm 14.

'Usually the automobile is provided with lamps 40, and the verticalportion 29 of the fender part 18 is provided with two circular hoops 41immediately before the lamps, the same presenting suitable aperturesthrough which the light of the lamps may shine without any interruptionwhatsoever. It will be seen, Fig. 3, that the particular fender bars 36,which normally would pass before the lamp face so as to cast a shadowahead, are cut away and the free extremity attached to hoops 41, so thatthe apertures inclosed by said hoops are altogether open. The details ofthe fender bars 22 and 36 with which my appliance is provided are shownin Fig. 4. Screw-fastenings 42 having eyes 43 pass through the bumpermember 23 and are rigidly attached into the frame member 19, and similarscrew-fastenings are rigidly attached into the rear frame member 20 ofthe fender part 17. Between the eyes 43 of corresponding fastenings 42is stretched the resilient helical spring 44 having looped ends 44 forattaching the same to the eyes 43, and a light rubber tubing 45, of anysuitable color, passes over said spring. The construction and mode offastening the fender bars 36 is identical with that of the bars 22 andneed not be separately described.

Fender bars, as above constructed, may be readily removed by merelyspringing the extremities of the springs 44 from the fastening eyes 43;and are so highly resilient that a person is caught softly and easily onthe same. Furthermore, by incasing the springs 44 in a rubber tube 45,the rough, wiry contour of the same is avoided, and at the same time thesprings 44 are protected from the water wherewith the automobile iswashed, so that said springs will not be subject to rust or otherdeteriorating agent.

The operation and mode of construction of my automobile fender will beclear from the foregoing detailed description, but it is understood,"however, that I do not contemplate limiting myself to the specific formshown and described.

I claim:

1. In combination, an automobile having a frame, brackets attached tothe front portion of said frame and extending forward from theautomobile, said brackets each having a forwardly projecting arm and adepending arm behind said forwardly projecting arm, said depending armshaving pins, and a fender comprising two parts, one of said parts beingpivotally mounted on the forwardly projecting supporting arms of thebrackets,.said pivotally mounted fender part having fingersadapted tocoiiperate with said pins on the depending arms of said bracket so as tolimit the pivotal swing of said pivotally mounted fender part; the otherof said fender parts being stationarily supported in a vertical positionand behind the first said fender part, the lower portion of said secondfender part being curved so as to permit the rear portion of saidpivotally mounted fender part to swing freely past the same and so as toprevent a person who has dropped onto said pivotally mounted fender partfrom falling off the rear portion of same.

2. The combination with the frame of a motor car, of brackets attachedto said frame, said brackets being provided with front and rear arms, afender part pivoted between its front and back edges and back of itscenter of gravity to said front arms, stops on the rear arms to engagethe fender part when said fender part is inclined upward and backward,and other stops on the rear arms to engage the fender part when saidfender part is substantially horizontal.

'weight normally to retain the fender in a position inclined forwardly,said brackets having vertical members positioned at the rear of saidfender, and hook members secured to the rear of said fender adapted tonormally engage said vertical members whereby to limit the forwardtilting movement of said fender.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 6th day of December, 1912.

' ALFRED URBACH. In presence of JAMES R; TOWNSEND, 7

ROBERT A. STEPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G."

